Need Help; found baby pigeon and am not sure what I should be doing...

Today when I was doing chores I found a baby pigeon. (We have wild pigeons that live in our barn/silo) He was just sitting on the floor of the barn. I walked up to him, and he didn't fly away. I looked and didn't hear/see his nest or any other pigeons, so I picked him up and brought him inside. I don't know how old he is (you can see in the pics he has most of his feathers, but still has some little yellow "fluff") or what I should be feeding him. I have chickens, but am totally new to pigeons. I gave him a little cup of water; i dipped his beak in it and then he took a few sips on his own. I put a little cup of scratch grains that I feed my chickens in with him, but haven't seen him eat... I usually don't jump into things like this; it kinda stresses me out. Any help/advice on how to care for him would greatly help this worried new father

Until then I'm off to do some of my own research/reading on pigeons

go to your local pet store and get parrot feeding formula and a syringe to feed the baby with its not healthy to give water at that age but you read the instructions on the bag and feed the baby at least 2 times a day one in the mourning and one at night he won't live long if you don't feed him but for now i would put him back in the barn so his parents will find him they won't leave him trust me I'm a pigeon owner myself and even when the baby is stuck and i can't see him the parents do so put him up on a ledge in a box and he will call to them when he's hungry cause likely he has a sibling up there somewhere

I never tried the parrot food. I always used warm skim milk in my case and layer pellets or sometimes grower. Mixed until of a pudding consistency.

Here is a link showing how one fancier feeds a squab:.


There are also other videos showing different methods

Thanks for the replies guys!

Why is it not healthy to give him water?

How old would you guess my guy/gal is, and when would he be eating solid foods on his own?

The pet store was already closed today, but I am planning on going in the morning. Hopefully the lady there will be able to help me too; I know she hand-raises parrots and other birds, so hopefully she will have some knowledge of pigeons as well.

Thanks again!

Here are my Squabs they are 13 & 14 days old.
Click on the photo for more information.
I have taken them out of the nest box today they are almost fully fledged.

I have hand reared many pigeons and doves. Here is the method I find the most easy!

Get your chick starter crumbs (or parrot baby food) and mix into a thick-ish paste. Should be like thick custard. Make sure this is warm to the touch - but NOT HOT.

Get a small clear plastic bag and cut a small hole in one corner - just big enough for the birds to get its beak into and open its beak (not too big or the mixture will all come out over the pigeons head).

Pour in the mixture. Hold the bag level with the birds head and gently push it onto its beak. The pigeon will soon learn to push its head back and forward and swallow the mixture.

Keep the bird in a box and change the bedding every day as they poop a lot!

You only need to feed him about 3 times a day - as much as he will eat each time. After about one week he will only need feeding 2 times a day. I feed in the morning and late afternoon.

IMPORTANT Do NOT FEED is he still has some food left in his crop from the feeding before. All the food must be out before you 'top him up' otherwise the old food will go bad in there and make him sick.

At the age of your bird you can start adding some small seeds to the mix and a very small amount of grit (but this is not essential - I find it helps with them starting to feed themselves later).

If you have any questions please ask! I LOVE PIGEONS!!!!! When he grows up you will have a super friendly pet there.

Hokum Coco said:

Click to expand...

GREAT nest box idea especially for the winter months.

Alright, good to know about making sure his crop is empty first. I will keep you all up to date on our progress. Thank you for all the help/advice/pics!

your bird looks like a fledgeling that probly got over eager for food and fell/hoped /led out by parents. yours should be eating solid food and water, maybe mixed together still sometimes or somewhat, but it should work to have low bowl of food and water for it, but dig finger around in to show it the food, but also soak wild bird seed ect in water then just cup in hand and let it stick its beak/head in to feed. pigeons are very similar to parrots in most ways that count and related, and both produce crop milke ect the same, so feeding by your parrot lady should/would be same. if you have chicks or feathering birds same age or size let this one see them close eating and drinking, and it should get the hint. ive had rescues that age and half that developed or less that just took right away to cheap wild bird seed.food, or chicken feed immediately to days on ow even. just check to make sure you can feel the crop on right side of throat is getting half full to the whole throat area full of seed and fluid at least once or twice a day hopefully more. itll do fine in ten gallon tank with wire bent to grate the poop out and heating pad to cuddle up on, under, or against. keep pad on low to med at most depending how warm feels on your wrist.

those babies at that age are not able to process water like an adult so when you give it to them it gives them the shoots an then they die